Resolution of coronary arteritis following tuberculosis treatment.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in an uncommon condition usually associated with atherosclerosis, but systemic vasculitides constitute important differential diagnoses. A less recognized cause of CAA, tuberculosis (TB) has also been noted to occur simultaneously in patients with such vascular abnormalities. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Angiography demonstrated segmental aneurysms of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Shortly after, she was also diagnosed with cutaneous TB, and treatment was promptly initiated. Reevaluation conducted several months later demonstrated that levels of inflammation markers had significantly decreased. New catheterization of coronary arteries evidenced complete resolution of coronary aneurysm images. CONCLUSION: Due to the clinical and radiologic resolution with only TB treatment, as well as lack of evidence supporting atherosclerotic or vasculitic etiologies, TB can be considered a possible contributor to aneurysm formation in this case. Prospective studies are necessary to reliably demonstrate causality between TB infection and CAA.

Validation of the Frenchay activity index on stroke victims / Validação do índice de atividades de Frenchay em indivíduos após AVC

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) in patients after stroke. Methods One hundred sixty-one patients were selected for consecutive application of the FAI and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Spearman’s test was used for correlation between different scales. The FAI and NIHSS association was evaluated using ordinal logistic regression. Additionally, 36 patients underwent FAI rating on the same day by two independent evaluators. Results A negative correlation between the FAI and the NIHSS scores (p = 0.017 r = -0.22) was found. Adjusting all variables with possible association with the NIHSS, ordinal logistic regression showed that the FAI had a significant association with NIHSS scores (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99, p: 0.033). The inter-rater agreement was considered good, k = 0.66 (0.54 to 0.78), p < 0.001. Conclusions The FAI is a valid and useful method to assess instrumental activities before acute stroke in a Brazilian population.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a confiabilidade inter-examinador e a validade preditiva do Índice de Atividades de Frenchay (FAI) em pacientes após acidente vascular cerebral. Métodos 161 pacientes foram selecionados para aplicação consecutiva da FAI e NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). O teste de Spearman foi utilizado para correlação entre as diferentes escalas. A associação FAI e NIHSS foi avaliada por meio de regressão logística ordinal. Adicionalmente, 36 pacientes foram submetidos à aplicação do FAI por dois avaliadores independentes, no mesmo dia. Resultados Foi encontrada uma correlação negativa entre o FAI e o NIHSS (r = -0,22; p = 0,017). Ajustando todas as variáveis com possível associação com NIHSS, a regressão logística ordinal demonstrou que o FAI tem associação significativa com o NIHSS (OR 0,93, 95% CI 0,87-0,99, p: 0,033). A concordância entre avaliadores foi considerada boa, k = 0,66 (0,54-0,78), p < 0,001. Conclusões FAI é um método válido e útil para avaliar atividades instrumentais antes de AVC agudo em uma população brasileira.

Proposal for a New Predictive Scale for Recurrent Risk of Fall in a Cohort of Community-Dwelling Patients with Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine risk factors related to the occurrence of falls in stroke patients and to propose a new predictive scale for falls. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were collected and the following scales were applied: Barthel Index, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Subjects were followed prospectively for 2 years for the occurrence of recurrent (≥2) falls. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed and univariable associations were tested using log-rank test. Two separate multivariable models were then used: the first used Cox proportional hazards regression and the second used Poisson regression. In each model, significant associations were considered present with a P value less than .05. RESULTS: We evaluated 150 individuals and the final analysis included 131 patients; the average age of the patients was 55.8 ± 13 years, 52% were women, and the median NIHSS score was 2 (interquartile range = 1-5). Falls occurred in 17% of patients, with a median of 23 months of follow-up (interquartile range = 16-26 months). In the multivariable Cox regression model, only TUG quartile, female gender, and posterior circulation territory involvement remained significant predictors of recurrent falls. We used the predictors from the Cox regression model to propose a new recurrent fall risk scale. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 73%, 95% confidence interval = 62%-83%, P = .001, with 81.3% sensitivity and 41.8% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The new predictive scale for recurrent risk (including TUG, posterior circulation territory involvement, and female gender) is presented as an instrument for monitoring the risk of recurrent falls.

Low Ankle-Brachial Index is a Simple Physical Exam Sign Predicting Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Ischemic Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: The investigation of ischemic stroke etiology is commonly limited to the heart and extracranial vessels. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of intracranial stenosis may carry important therapeutic implications. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) in a sample of patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted to a university-based outpatient stroke clinic underwent CT angiography of the intracranial and extracranial brain vessels. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with increasing levels of stenosis. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured to quantify peripheral arterial disease, defined as an ABI less than or equal to .9. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was constructed to predict increasing stenosis grades (none, 1%-49%-mild, 50%-69%-moderate, 70%-100%-severe). RESULTS: We studied 106 subjects, mean age 62 ± 15 years, 54% female. ICAS was present in 38 (36%) patients: 19 (50%) mild, 7 (18%) moderate, and 12 (32%) severe. Of 74 patients where ABI was measured, low ABI was found more frequently with increasing ICAS severity (26%, 42%, 67%, and 89% of patients with none, mild, moderate, and severe ICAS, respectively). In univariable analysis, higher age, presence of diabetes, abdominal obesity, and low ABI correlated with increasing stenosis grades. In multivariable analysis, only low ABI remained independently associated with increasing stenosis grades. CONCLUSIONS: The ABI is independently associated with increasing severity of ICAS, making it a potentially useful triaging tool for more invasive test selection.

Perfil epidemiológico dos subtipos moleculares de carcinoma ductal da mama em população de pacientes em Salvador, Bahia / Epidemiological profile of molecular subtypes of breast ductal carcinoma in patients population in Salvador, Bahia

Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil dos subtipos moleculares do câncer de mama em uma população de pacientes de duas clínicas privadas de Salvador, Bahia: o Núcleo da Mama e o Núcleo de Oncologia da Bahia. Metodologia: Estudo de corte transversal que incluiu pacientes do sexo feminino com diagnóstico aná- tomo-patológico de carcinoma invasivo sem tipo especial (ductal invasor). Foram excluídas as pacientes com história de câncer prévio, exceto câncer de pele não melanoma; com dados clínicos anteriores ao tratamento sistêmico indisponíveis e sem laudo de imuno-histoquímica. Foi realizada classificação do câncer de mama com base no subtipo molecular em quatro padrões principais: luminal A, luminal B, HER2+ e triplo-negativo. Frequências e proporções foram estabelecidas para cada um dos subtipos moleculares. Outros dados clínicos e laboratoriais também foram colhidos para estabelecer o perfil da população estudada. Resultados: Foram recrutadas 59 pacientes entre dezembro de 2012 e maio de 2014, com idade média de 56,9 anos. O subtipo molecular mais comum na amostra foi o luminal B, com 35 casos (59,3%), seguido do luminal A, (11 casos; 18,6%), triplo-negativo (6 casos, 10,2%) e HER2+ (7 casos; 11,9%). Conclusões: Corroborando outros estudos realizados em população brasileira, o subtipo luminal B é o mais comum encontrado nesta amostra de pacientes de Salvador, Bahia. O achado ajuda a confirmar o padrão atípico do país em relação ao descrito na literatura internacional, com importantes implicações terapêuticas e prognósticas.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate breast cancer molecular subtype distribution in a female population of two private centers in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Núcleo da Mama e o Núcleo de Oncologia da Bahia. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study involving female patients with pathological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS). Patients with history of previous cancer except non-melanoma skin câncer; clinical data prior to systemic treatment unavailable and those without immunohistochemical report were excluded from the study. Breast cancer classification was based on four main molecular subtype patterns: luminal A, luminal B, HER2 + and triple negative. Frequencies and proportions were established for each of the molecular subtypes. Other clinical and laboratory data were also collected to determine baseline characteristics of the population studied. Results: We recruited 59 patients between December 2012 and May 2014 with an average age of 56.9 years. The most common molecular subtype of the sample was luminal B subtype, with 35 cases (59.3%), followed by luminal A (11 cases; 18.6%), triple negative (6 cases, 10.2%) and HER2+ (7 cases; 11.9%). Conclusions: Similar to other studies with Brazilian population samples, luminal B subtype is the most common in this sample of patients in Salvador, Bahia. The finding helps confirm the atypical pattern of the country in relation to that described in international literature, with important therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Associação entre índice de massa corpórea e câncer de mama em pacientes de Salvador, Bahia / Association between body mass index and breast cancer in patients from Salvador, Bahia

Objetivo: Identificar a associação entre o índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e a ocorrência de câncer de mama em uma população de pacientes de duas clínicas de Salvador (BA). Métodos: Estudo caso-controle no qual foram recrutadas 190 pacientes entre 2012 e 2014, sendo 68 diagnosticadas com carcinoma ductal da mama e 122 controles. Foi realizado cálculo amostralcom n=140 pacientes por meio do programa Winpepi. Dados de peso e altura foram coletados para cálculo do IMC de cada paciente. Com base nos critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), foram classificadas como desnutridas pacientes com IMC <18,5, normais aquelas com IMC ?18,5 e <25,0 kg/m², sobrepeso com ?25 e <30 kg/m², e obesas com ?30 kg/m².Proporções de cada categoria de IMC foram determinadas para casos e controles. Análise estatística incluiu realização de teste do ?2 para avaliação de correlação entre as variáveis categóricas. Resultados: A idade média foi de 56,7±13 anos entre os casos e de 53,1±11,9 anos entre os controles. IMC médio foi de 27,5±4,6 kg/m² entre os casos e de 26,1±4,9 kg/m² entre os controles. A proporção de pacientes normais, sobrepeso e obesas foi de 33,8, 38,2 e 27,9% entre os casos e de 43,4, 43,4 e 13,1% entre os controles, respectivamente. Houve significativamente mais obesas entre os casos do que entre os controles (OR=2,57; IC95% 1,22?5,42; p=0,011),com mulheres na menacme e pós-menopausadas. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram correlação entre a presença de câncer de mama e o IMC elevado na amostra estudada, o que está condizente com os resultados de outros estudos.

Objective: Identify the association between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer in a population of patients from two clinics in Salvador (BA). Methods: A case-control study in which 190 patients were recruited between 2012 and 2014, 68 diagnosed with ductal breast carcinoma and 122 controls. Sample calculation was performed with n=140 patients, through Winpepi program. Weight and height data were collected to calculate the body mass index of each patient. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were classified as malnourished patients with BMI <18.5, those with normal BMI ?18.5 and <25.0 kg/m², overweight ?25 and <30 kg/m² and obese ?30 kg/m². BMI proportions of each category were determined for cases and controls. Statistical analysis included performing chi-square test to evaluate the correlation between categorical variables. Results: Mean age was 56.7±13 years between cases and 53.1±11.9 years among controls. Mean BMI was 27.5±4.6 kg/m² among cases and 26.1±4.9 kg/m² among controls. The proportion of normal patients, overweight and obese was 33.8, 38.2 and 27.9% in the cases and 43.4, 43.4 and 13.1% among controls, respectively. There were significantly more obese among cases than among controls (OR=2.57, 95%CI 1.22?5.42; p=0.011), with women in premenopausal and post-menopausal. Conclusion: The resultsshow a correlation between the presence of breast cancer and high BMI in this sample, consistent with the results of other studies.